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~;tYOf City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: June 23, 2009
Agenda Item: ~ ~~
To: Mayor and City Council
from: Timothy J. Jackman, Chief of Police
Subject: Transportation of Santa Monica Police Department Prisoners to the
County Courthouse at Los Angeles International Airport for Court
Proceedings
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a service agreement with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department (LASD)
in the amount of $120,061 to provide transportation for Santa Monica Police
Department (SMPD) prisoners to the Superior Court of California -County of Los
Angeles Airport Branch.
Executive Summary
The Santa Monica Police Department has been utilizing the services of the Los Angeles
County Sheriff's Department to transport prisoners from the SMPD's Jail to the Airport
Branch Courthouse since July 2004; the current service agreement expires on June 30,
2009. Under the terms of the service agreement, the Sheriff Department's personnel
makes one pick-up at SMPD on each court date and transports both male and female
pre-arraignment misdemeanants, felons, and Santa Monica warrant arrestees to the
Airport Branch Courthouse. SMPD's personnel provide security for the loading of the
LASD's van, and are responsible for the custody of all arrestees until they are physically
on the van. The term of the service agreement is July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012.
Funds for the service agreement are included in the FY2009 -10 proposed budget.
Discussion
Since 2000, the Los Angeles County Superior Court, in an effort to consolidate its
operations and reduce costs, started to transfer some criminal cases from the Santa
Monica Branch Courthouse to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Branch of the
Superior Court. On June 11, 2004 the City was informed that no criminal case
proceedings would take place at the Santa Monica Branch Courthouse and that virtually
all criminal case hearings involving Santa Monica Police Department arrestees will
occur at the Airport Branch Courthouse.
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In response to the Superior Court's decision, City staff identified and investigated three
options in 2004: video arraignments, an in-house prisoner transportation unit, and a
service agreement with LASD for prisoner transport.
Arraignments could be conducted via avideo-link between the Santa Monica Public
Safety Facility (PSF) jail and a designated courtroom at the Airport Branch. SMPD staff
would be required to outfit and service at least three areas in the jail to accommodate
prisoner movement, defense attorney visitation, and the arraignments themselves.
Video equipment would have to be installed in the SMPD jail and in a courtroom at the
Airport Branch Courthouse, and at least six integrated services digital network (ISDN)
phone lines would be required. Jail section employees would be responsible for
preparation of court paperwork, jail remand paperwork, and release paperwork that
would normally be completed by court personnel; potentially requiring more Jailer
positions. It was determined that the video arraignment option was not economically
viable.
SMPD evaluated creating an in-house prisoner transportation unit. However it was
determined that an in-house "Court Services Unit" with employees transporting pre-
arraignment arrestees to the Airport Branch Courthouse would require four Police
Officer positions and one Police Sergeant from other units within the Police Department.
Additionally, SMPD personnel who would. be implementing this new court services
program would not have the years of experience and the extensive support system (for
this function) that the Sheriffs Department already possesses.
In 2004 Council opted to enter into a service agreement with the Los Angeles County
Sheriffs Department for prisoner transport and staffs assessment is that the service
has worked well for the SMPD and should be continued.
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Previous Council Actions
On June 8, 2004 Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
service agreement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department [Contract # 8350
(CCS)].
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The service agreement to be awarded to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
is $120,061 for FY2009-10. Funds are included in the FY2009-10 proposed budget in
account number 01304.566960.
Prepared by: Neela Patel, Senior Administrative Analyst -Police Budget
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Approved: Forwarded to Council:
Reference Contract No.
9077 (CCS).